Trash the Dress

Photo by Marcin Labedzki
One of the newer trends in wedding photography is having a “Trash the Dress” session AFTER the wedding festivities are over. This is a fun photos session where the bride and groom get in their wedding gowns and suits again and take pictures where they are not afraid to get dirty. This leads to some very interesting, fun, and very artistic photos.
This is definitely something to consider when talking with your photographer or even worth checking out with a different photographer if they don’t do it. It is also a great way to be able to wear your wedding gown again! Take a look at some of these pictures! For more “Trash the Dress” pictures, click here!

Above Photo By: Barosz Jastal

Above Photo By: Beth Daane Photography

A great advantage for these photo shoots is that they can be done in a "high fashion" way or however shows off you and your significant other's style. It is also nice because these can be done during the week..which helps with the budget!

Guiding the Groomsmen

I love Google.
I think I like it so much that it is now a crutch for me! If I can’t think of something or need a phone number, definition, or am just curious about what Patrick Dempsey is doing right now, all I have to do is Google it!
My husband and I are in my good friend Raven’s wedding in May, and I had just received the “you need to get fitted for your tux” email from her. One of the smartest tricks in the book is to give your groomsmen or bridesmaid a “fake” time when they need to order their tux/dress by instead of the real deadline. For example, if the tuxes/dresses need to be fitted by April 25th, tell us that it needs to be done by April 15th. It just makes life easier (so, Raven, if you are reading this...you are busted! I'm on to you about the real time this needs to be done!)
Because of this I was Googling the tux location and found another great website that you may want to somehow get the men in your life to read. It is http://www.thegroomguide.com/. It has everything for future grooms; from how to plan the perfect engagement, to how to make a foolproof toast, to how to plan the perfect honeymoon. Another useful tidbit on this website is the Groom’s Checklist. This is something that I wish my dear husband would have read (if he would have maybe we would have had a D.J. instead of an iPod at our wedding---yes I still married him—and yes I am getting over being bitter about it…the iPod…not the husband).
So maybe just have the webpage up when your fiancé or main squeeze comes over…just dropping subtle, yet useful, hints. Or, for a more in-your-face approach, print it out with a big Do or Die Alone note! Hope this helps!
*Make sure that your groom reads #29 on the checklist…it’s a must

Vintage Wedding Dresses

In my spare time I tend to do a lot of searching online for my budget conscious brides. This is mostly because #1- I want to help people out in this economic time and #2- I love finding a bargain!
I found this website http://www.unique-vintage.com/ and absolutely fell in love with it! Personally I am a fan of the vintage look, but there are some wedding dresses on here that are absolutely beautiful, unique, and UNDER $200!!!!
Take a look:

$148.00

$188.00

$170.00


I actually called the store because I thought that some of this was too good to be true and they said that if you are unhappy with the dress once it is sent to you, if you send it back you will get a full refund (minus shipping charges). Another great helpful tool on their website is that when you are going to buy the dress, they have all the measurements listed so you can make sure that you get the right size. They have all types of sizes and have a great selection for bridesmaids too!

There is something to be said about trying on a wedding gown and actually going to the a bridal store as well, and I strongly suggest doing that. Who knows, you could find a dress that you fall in love with in there as well! Or you could see what kind of style looks best of you. But if that isn’t working out the best for you, take a look at this website and check out these dresses!

Chair Ties

One of my brides came in today to check out the hall and show her future mother-in-law where they where getting married. On their to-do list was to take measurements of our white chairs so they could make their own chair ties to add some spark to their table set-up. I thought that was an excellent way to help reduce linen cost for this extra presentation. Here are some other tid bits when making your own chair tie decorations:


* Depending on your color, purchase ribbon after a major holiday that the color is specifically used (i.e. if you want to use red ribbon, after Christmas would be an excellent time to buy it)

* Use velcro or snaps to to attach the ends of the ribbon for easy and quick set-up

* Make sure that you allow enough time when setting up and preparing the chairs. It may not seem like it will take a long time, but if it takes 2 minutes a chair and you have 200 chairs that is almost 3 1/2 hours if one person was to do it by themselves.

*Be creative! If you want some extra flare, attach a bow or add a sheer fabric to the chair tie

Here are the measurements for ribbon on a standard white wooden chairs:

This look will show just a dash of color and won't use a lot of ribbon.

Measurements: 10 1/2 inches

With an Overlay: 12 1/2 inches

This look is nice because not only does it add color to the chair, but it will stay secure on the chair and won't slip down when people sit on it.

Measurements: 31 1/2 inches

With an Overlay: 33 1/2 inches

This unique look stays secure on the chair and will definitely make a strong, colorful impression on your special day.

Measurements: 48 inches

With an Overlay: 50 inches

Spring Fever

It is the middle of February and it is 59 degrees outside---nothing like Wisconsin weather:-). Warm weather always gets me excited for upcoming weddings and starting the ever-so-popular wedding season.

Downtown Milwaukee is such a beautiful place in the spring/summer and can be a wonderful backdrop for any wedding party. We have seen some great pictures come out from this area. Here are some pictures of weddings this last summer...I will be keeping these pictures in mind because, as all Wisconsinites know, it can be 59 degrees today and be a snowstorm tomorrow!

Have Your Cake and Eat It Too!

Let there be cake. I love cake. I especially love buttercream frosting on my cake and there is nothing like a good wedding cake. Here at the War Memorial one of my favorite things to do when setting up a wedding is to check out the cake.

There have been all types, sizes, and shapes of cakes here. From a cake shaped like a football helmet to a rubber ducky themed cake, to a wedding cake with the characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas on it. It is always entertaining to see the various cakes that come through.
Something that I have been sporadically seeing is the substitution of cupcakes for the traditional wedding cake. This is sometimes a little easier for your guests to get to and they can be a lot of fun.

I did a little research on the story of the cake and found out that in the 17th century it was popular to have a “bride’s pie” at a wedding ceremony. This pie was usually filled with sweetbreads or mutton or mince pie (which I think is goat or lamb…ewww!!!) However, the other “main ingredient” was a glass ring. The story goes that whoever found the glass ring would marry next (their form of a bouquet toss?). This tradition quickly disappeared by the 19th century, and this is when the tiered cakes started to take trend. Cakes started out back then as a simply white (to symbolize purity) cake and through the years have changed to represent the style of the couple being married.
So from minced pie to buttercream…I think I can speak (or write) for most people when saying that this is one tradition that has definitely improved over the years!